Multipositional selector valve

ABSTRACT

A valve adapted with a flow distributor enabling selection of one of a plurality of flow paths therethrough. The valve is adapted with means for attaching a plurality of chromatographic columns thereto such that flow can be directed into any of the columns, individually.

United States Patent Ayers et al.

MULTIPOSITIONAL SELECTOR VALVE Inventors: Buell O. Ayers; Lewis B. Roof,both of Bartlesville, Okla.

Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company, Bartlesville, Okla.

Filed: June 4, 1973 Appl. No.: 366,728

US. Cl. l37/625.46 Int. Cl. Fl6k 3/08, Fl6k 11/02 Field of Searchl37/625.l 1, 625.46

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 12/1965 Young 137/625.46

[ Mar. 4, 1975 3,411,525 ll/l968 3.477,207 1 H1969 3,494,175 2/19703,747,630 7/1973 Primary E.\'aminerHenry T. Klinksiek [57] ABSTRACT Avalve adapted with a flow distributor enabling selection of one of aplurality of flow paths therethr0ugh.- The valve is adapted with meansfor attaching a plurality of chromatographic columns thereto such thatflow can be directed into any of the columns, individually.

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATEHTEW 3.868.970

sum 3 o 5 PATENTED 75 OUTLET m L W RHHHHHNHHHHHHHH I|IJ1 MULTIPOSITIONALSELECTOR VALVE procedure is well known. Such as US. Pat. Nos.

2,972,246 to Reinecke et al. and 3,376,894 to Broerman describe theunderlying principles of the procedures involved.

Frequently, in conducting such analyses, it is desirable to direct aplurality of portions of a sample into a plurality of analyzing columnsor it may be desirable to direct a plurality of eluted portions of asample being analyzed into a plurality of cumulating columns from whichthe portions can be subsequently recovered for further detailedanalysis. The valve of the present invention provides a means forcollecting such a plurality of samples.

According to the apparatus of this invention there is provided a valvecomprising an inlet, a distributor, a conduit in open communicationbetween said inlet and said distributor and a plurality of conduits inopen communication between the distributor and a plurality of outletsopening from the valve.

The valve of the present invention is an improvement over multiportvalves of the prior art because it embodies a first upper portion ofcomparatively small diameter to provide for the routing of the sampleinto any of a plurality of flow paths with a minimum opportunity ofsample loss and it employs a second lower portion of a comparativelylarger diameter to provide a sufficient area for the attachment of aplurality of columns to the plurality of conduits leading from the valveinto the columns.

The apparatus of this invention will be more easily understood ifexplained in conjunction with the attached drawings in which FIG. 1 is aview of the valve in elevation;

FIGS. 2 through 9 are views of several of the individual elementscomprising the valve; and,

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating one flow pattern through thevalve.

The apparatus of this invention will be described in terms of apreferred embodiment adapted for positioning in conjunction with aplurality of chromatographic columns, for example, six in number. Eachelement shown in the FIGURES will be described with reference to avertical axis through a plan view of the element.

As shown in FIG. 1, the valve 1 is comprised of column plate 2, columngasket 3, mounting plate 4, stator gasket 5, stator 6, rotor 7 and rotorcap 8. These elements can be indexed relative to each other to form oneor more flow paths through the valve. The valve also is adapted withrotor shaft 9, spring 10, spring plate 11, and microselector switches 12and motor 13. The column plate, column gasket, mounting plate, statorgasket and stator are indexed in predetermined positions and maintainedin fixed positions by means of suitable bolting. The rotor and rotor capare positioned as a movable entity in relation to the aforementionedelements and held in leak-proof arrangement relative thereto by means ofthe spring and spring plate.

The sample takes the flow path shown schematically in FIG. 10.

The sample is introduced into an inlet in mounting plate and flowsthrough the mounting plate into the column gasket which acts to channelthe sample into the proper conduit.

The sample flows up through the mounting plate, stator and into achannel of the rotor. The rotor is positioned in a selected relationshipto the stator so as to direct the sample through a preselected path downthrough the valve and from the column plate.

Affixed to the column plate and projecting downwardly is U-shaped column100. The sample flows from the valve down one leg of the column, up theother leg of the column, and back up into the valve. The sample isdirected into the rotor which preselects the outward path therefrom.

The sample then flows downwardly from the rotor, across the columngasket and up through the mounting plate and from the valve.

The apparatus will be described in detail with the elements beingdiscussed in flow sequence. Each element is described in relation to acenter line B'B and point B thereon with all positions being giventherefrom in a clockwise direction. Unless otherwise stated, all holesin all members are to be considered as penetrating the depth of themember concerned.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a plan view of mounting plate 4.This plate can be fabricated of steel, can be about 6 inches in diameterand about fiveeighths inch in thickness. It will be adapted with aplurality of bolts holes arranged as convenient.

On a circle 3 inches in diameter, as related to the center of the plate,at 45 and respectively, from reference point B there are positionedoutlet hole 21 and inlet hole 20 penetrating the plate.

On a l inch diameter hole circle, there is positioned one hole 22a at alocation 75 clockwise from reference point B.

On a l a inch diameter hole circle, there are positioned six holes 23a,23b, 23c, 23d, 23s, and 23f, these holes being positioned equallyarcuately spaced and straddling the center line B.

On a inch diameter hole circle, there are positioned six holes 24a, 24b,24c, 24d, 24e and 24f, these being positioned equally arcuately spaced,two holes being intersected by center line B'B.

On a /9 inch diameter hole circle, there is positioned one hole 25a at alocation 45 clockwise from reference point B.

The mounting plate is also adapted with center hole 29 which can be0.257 inch in diameter and penetrates the plate.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown column gasket 3. This gasketwill be 6 inches in diameter and can be composed of one-eighth inchthick Teflon. This gasket will be penetrated by a center hole 39 whichis livesixteenths inch in diameter. It will be adapted with bolt holesin matching arrangement to those of the mounting plate. Theafter-described slots all are one thirtysecond inch in width andpenetrate the gasket.

Inlet slot 30 is positioned on a radius 75 clockwise from referencepoint on a B. It extends from a point I inch diameter circle centered onthe gasket to a point on a 3 inch diameter circle centered on thegasket.

Outlet slot 31 is positioned on a radius 45 clockwise from referencepoint B. It extends from a point fivesixteenths inch from the center ofthe gasket to a point 1 b inches from the center of the gasket.

The gasket will contain six slots 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d, 32e and 32fequally arcuately spaced and extending outwardly from loci l /a inchesfrom the center of the gasket to loci on a 5 inch diameter circlecentered on the gasket. Slot 320 will be positioned on a radii 30clockwise from reference point B.

The gasket will contain six slots 33a, 33b, 33c, 33d, 33e and 33fequally arcuately spaced and extending outwardly from loci on a /8 inchdiameter circle centered on the gasket to loci on a 5 inch diametercircle centered on the gasket. Slot 33a will be positioned on the centerline B'B.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown column plate 2. This plate canbe formed of steel and will be 6 inches in diameter and five-eighthsinch thick. It will be drilled and tapped for any suitable number ofbolt holes by means of which the plate is adapted for holding thepreviously-described elements in matching relationship. It is alsoadapted with twelve holes, penetrating the plate, spaced equidistantlyon a 5 inch diameter circle, one of these holes being positioned onplate center line B'B. These holes are tapped in their lower portions topermit theattachment of threaded connections at the inlet to and theoutlet from the column, a column thus assuming a U-shape when both ofthe column ends are fitted to the column plate.

The column plate is also adapted with center hole having a diameter of0.257 inch and penetrated the plate to a depth of one-fourth inch atwhich point the hole is enlarged to inch diameter.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown stator gasket 5 which can bemade of one-eighth inch thick Teflon and which can be I inch indiameter. It is penetrated by a center hole 59 having a 5/16 inchdiameter.

' The stator gasket is penetrated by fourteen holes having a diameter ofone thirty-second inch.

The stator is adapted with first hole 57a penetrating the stator andpositioned 45 clockwise from center line B'B on a inch diameter circle.The stator is adapted with a second hole 580 penetrating the stator andpositioned 75 clockwise from center line B'B on a l inch diametercircle.

Six of these holes, 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d, Sle and 51f, are positioned on al A; diameter circle, the holes being equally arcuately spaced apart,and straddling center line B'B.

A second series of six holes, 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d, 52e and 52f, arepositioned on a /a inch diameter circle, being equidistantly spacedapart, hole 52a being positioned on center line B-B.

The stator gasket is adapted with six slots one thirtysecond inch inwidth, each penetrating the gasket. These slots, 53a, 53b, 53c, 53d, 53eand 53f, each have a first terminus positioned on a l 24; inch diametercircle and extend inwardly in a clockwise direction in a straight linesuch that the second terminus of each is positioned on a "/e inchdiameter circle. Each slot extends from a first radius to a secondradius positioned 30 therefrom, the slots being so positioned onalternate 30 segments ofa circle, slot 53a having a first terminuspositioned on center line B'B on the 1 A; inch diameter circle andextending inwardly to the /8 inch diameter circle to a point 30 in aclockwise direction from center line B'-B.

Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown stator 6. This element can befabricated of steel and have a diameter of l /8 inch OD. and a thicknessofone-halfinch. It has a 5/l6 inch diameter center hole.

The stator is adapted with first hole 61a penetrating the stator andpositioned 45 clockwise from center line B'B on a /sinch diametercircle. The stator is adapted with a second hole 62a penetrating thestator and positioned clockwise from center line B-B on a l /a inchdiameter circle. The stator is adapted with a first series of twelveholes 63a, 63b, 63c.'etc., each penetrating the plate, all positioned ona 78 inch diameter circle, equally arcuately spaced 30 apart, hole 63abeing positioned on the center line B'B.

The stator is adapted with a second series of I2 holes 64a, 64b, 64c,etc., each penetrating the plate, all positioned on a I 243 inchdiameter circle, equally arcuately spaced 30 apart, hole 640 beingpositioned on the center line B'B.

Referring now to FIG. 7 there is shown rotor 7, shown in a view of itsunderside. This element can be fabricated of steel and have a diameterof l inch and a thickness of one-fourth inch. It has a center hole 79ahaving a We inch diameter.

The motor is adapted with a first groove or channel 71a which lies on ainch diameter circle. This groove is one thirty-second inch wide and onethirty-second inch deep and encircles the center hole. At a locus 240clockwise from reference point 8', this groove extends outwardly fromthe center hole a distance of one-fourth inch.

The rotor is adapted with a second groove or channel 73a which lies on a1% inch diameter circle. This groove is one thirty-second inch wide andone thirtysecond inch deep and encircles the center hole. At a locus 270clockwise from reference point B, this groove extends inwardly towardsthe center hole a distance of one-fourth inch and terminates at terminus74a.

The grooved surface of the rotor and the adjacent stator face willpreferably be lapped to facilitate rotation of the rotor relative to thestator positioned therebeneath.

Referring now to FIG. 8 there is shown rotor cap 8 in a view of itsunderside. This element can be fabricated of steel and have a diameterof 1 Va inch and a thickness of one-fourth inch. The rotor cap has acenter hole 89a having a 0.257 inch diameter with two sevensixty-fourths inch wide slots extending outwardly about one-fourth inchfrom the center of the circle and also has a circular section nineteenthirty-seconds inch in diameter extending one-sixteenth inch above itsupper surface.

Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown rotor shaft 9. It will be acircular, stainless steel member having a length of about 4 11 inch anda diameter of one-fourth inch. It will be penetrated by a first 3/32inch aperture 9a at five-eighths inch from its first end and a secondaperture 9b 2 Va from its first end. Its second end 9c will be threadedfor a distance of one-half inch from its end.

This rotor shaft extends down through the previous ly-describedelements, extending through the column plate into a nut positionedtherebeneath in aperture 49 of the column plate. A pin is positionedthrough aperture 9b of rotor shaft 9 to lock into slot 89a of the rotorcap and to effect rotation of the rotor cap operating as a movableentity relative to the elements therebeneath.

The spring and spring plate are positioned in bearing relation to therotor cap and maintained in position by a pin positioned throughaperture 9a.

The rotor shaft is coupled to a motor shaft affixed to a motor. Therotation of the motor is controlled by suitable microselector switchesand cam arrangement which form no part of the invention.

Rotation is effected through the motor to turn the rotor shaft whichturns the rotor cap and rotor to any preselected position such thatmaterial flowing upwardly through the valve can be caused to flow in apreselected path down through the valve and into a preselected columnaffixed to the column plate.

It will also be seen that not only can a plurality of samples beintroduced into a plurality of columns but a plurality of samples can bestored in the stator-stator gasket section of the apparatus uponsuitable indexing, these samples being recovered from various cutsseparated in any of the plurality of chromatographic columns or beingintroduced into the selector valve and stored therein for subsequentusage.

Simultaneously therewith, there can be contained within the valve,between the rotor and the mounting plate, in any selected channel 68, asshown in FIG. 10, another sample which, after entrapment therein, can beintroduced into any of the plurality of columns affixed to the base ofthe column plate.

It will be appreciated that the various parts described can be adaptedwith one or more apertures to facilitate assembly and subsequentindexing of the various parts in sequential flow arrangement, any flowarrangement being selectable upon integration of the movements of thevarious parts as effected by the turning of the motor shaft in relationto the cams and micro-selector switches.

For example, in one embodiment of the invention the valve described hasbeen used as a 12 port-l2 position rotary switching valve, the valvebeing constructed to switch any or none of six chromatographic columnsinto a system. Six of the valve positions are available to switch thecolumn into the system with the six alternate valve positions beingemployable to bypass all columns. In this operation the valve cancollect, store and introduce samples into the columns and can similarlycollect, store and reintroduce component cuts from original samples.

It will be evident from the foregoing that various modifications can bemade to the method of this invention. Such are considered, however, tobe within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:

a. an inlet;

b. a movably-positionable distributor comprising a first circulargrooved channel in a rotatable plate, said first circular groovedchannel in direct contact with a channel from said inlet, said firstcircular grooved channel having a second channel extending therefromwhereby by rotation of said plate registry can be maintained with anyone of a plurality of openings located at the same direction in the samedirection away from this first circular grooved channel;

c. a first plurality of openings, each of said openings connected to aconduit leading from said distributor; and

d. a first plurality of conduits each connected to one of said openings.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said plurality of conduits areindividually adapted for the insertion thereinto of a chromatographiccolumn.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said distributor is positionable bymotor means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said motor means is controlled byselector switches.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said apparatus comprises a mountingplate and a column plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said inlet is positioned in saidmounting plate and said first plurality of conduits open from saidcolumn plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which a second plurality of conduitsprovide open communication through said mounting plate and opens fromsaid mounting plate.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 comprising:

a. an outlet;

b. said movably-positionable distributor comprising a second circulargrooved channel in said rotatable plate, said second circular groovedchannel in direct contact with a channel to an outlet, said secondcircular grooved channel having a second channel extending therefromwhereby by rotation of said plate registry can be maintained with anyone ofa second plurality of openings located at the same distance in thesame direction away from the second circular grooved channel; and

c. a second plurality of openings, each of said openings connected toone of said second plurality of conduits.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which chromatographic columns arepositionable between said plurality of conduits opening from said valveand said second plurality of conduits opening from said mounting plate.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said apparatus is adapted withstorage conduits.

U ED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE ERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENTNO. I ,868,970

DATED 1 March 4, 1975 INVENTOR(S) I Buell 0. Ayers et al It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 9, delete "direction and insert distance Zignerl andsealed this 1st ay of July 1.275,

(SEAL) Attest:

q f fiJNTI 'K -,w7- b. 1.ul'\-J;E.\; .L Dani.

1 "'1 7 v IIUTI; k. 11.1001: Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officerand Trademarks

1. An apparatus comprising: a. an inlet; b. a movably-positionabledistributor comprising a first circular grooved channel in a rotatableplate, said first circular grooved channel in direct contact with achannel from said inlet, said first circular grooved channel having asecond channel extending therefrom whereby by rotation of said plateregistry can be maintained with any one of a plurality of openingslocated at the same direction in the same direction away from this firstcircular grooved channel; c. a first plurality of openings, each of saidopenings connected to a conduit leading from said distributor; and d. afirst plurality of conduits each connected to one of said openings. 2.The apparatus of claim 1 in which said plurality of conduits areindividually adapted for the insertion thereinto of a chromatographiccolumn.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said distributor ispositionable by motor means.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which saidmotor means is controlled by selector switches.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1 in which said apparatus comprises a mounting plate and a columnplate.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 in which said inlet is positioned insaid mounting plate and said first plurality of conduits open from saidcolumn plate.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which a second plurality ofconduits provide open communication through said mounting plate andopens from said mounting plate.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 comprising:a. an outlet; b. said movably-positionable distributor comprising asecond circular grooved channel in said rotatable plate, said secondcircular grooved channel in direct contact with a channel to an outlet,said second circular grooved channel having a second channel extendingtherefrom whereby by rotation of said plate registry can be maintainedwith any one of a second plurality of openings located at the samedistance in the same direction away from the second circular groovedchannel; and c. a second plurality of openings, each of said openingsconnected to one of said second plurality of conduitS.
 9. The apparatusof claim 8 in which chromatographic columns are positionable betweensaid plurality of conduits opening from said valve and said secondplurality of conduits opening from said mounting plate.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 1 in which said apparatus is adapted with storageconduits.